Putin approves record defense budget as EU officials show support in Kyiv

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a record defense budget of 13.5 trillion rubles (over $145 billion) for 2025, increasing military spending to 32.5% of the national budget. This marks a rise from 28.3% in the previous year. The budget approval follows recent legislative support and comes amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where Russian forces have made advances. The situation remains tense as Kyiv continues to receive substantial aid from Western allies. In related developments, EU officials visited Kyiv to express support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, drone strikes in Kherson and missile attacks in Dnipro resulted in multiple casualties, highlighting the ongoing violence in the region.